Handicapped-accessible golf course

Abstract

A golf course which is accessible to the physically handicapped. A clubhouse is equipped with wheelchair-accessible ramps, wheelchair-accessible toilets and necessary medical supplies and equipment. Rest houses are located on the course to provide rest, refreshment, and medical aid. The course is substantially flat to make it accessible to wheel chairs. It contains no water hazards. The surface of the greens is constructed of artificial turf. Playing hazards include boulders, concrete slabs, and sand traps. The sand traps are of such a size and arrangement so as to allow the maneuvering of wheelchairs. Blind golfers may play as the holes are equipped with buzzers which emit sounds which allow the determination of the location of the holes and additional buzzers which signal the entry of the ball into the hole.

We claim: 
     
       1. A golf course which is accessible to physically handicapped golfers, which comprises a playing surface and: (a) a clubhouse which is equipped with at least one wheelchair-accessible ramp, at least one room equipped with at least one bed, and toilets accessible to wheelchairs;   (b) a plurality of playing holes, each playing hole comprising (i) a tee area which comprises a plurality of areas for tee placement; (ii) a fairway area which is free from water traps, which comprises a surface which contains a pitch sufficient to afford water drainage and (iii) a green area which contains a plurality of holes which may be plugged so as to present different locations of the playing hole at different times, an artificial turf, and a rubber layer beneath the artificial turf;   (c) a plurality of climate-controlled rest houses on the course, each rest house being accessible by wheelchair ramps and containing at least one bed and refreshments; and   (d) hazards which are at least one member selected from the group consisting of (i) boulders, (ii) concrete slabs which are flush with the playing surface, and (iii) sand traps which are flush with the playing surface;   the playing surface of the golf course being essentially flat except for the drainage pitch.   
     
     
       2. The golf course of claim 1, wherein the sand traps are arranged so that there is approximately 40 inches of sand and 40 inches of turf in a repeating series. 
     
     
       3. The golf course of claim 1, wherein the rubber layer beneath the artificial turf is adapted to be manipulated so as to form a ridge in the artificial turf.